Charlotte Hornets wing Kon Knueppel heaped praise on fellow rookie Cooper Flagg on Thursday night following the Hornets' 123-121 win over the Mavs.

Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki recently explained Charlotte Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel’s German last name to the general public. Nowitzki, 47, played his entire 21-year NBA career with the Mavericks.

Duke, Hornets star Kon Knueppel's brother Kager picks up D-I basketball offer from Big Ten originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Kon Knueppel has paved the path for his brothers.

Topps unveiled a limited-time Topps NOW drop tied to Cooper Flagg vs. Kon Knueppel, including a 1/1 dual-auto sneaker-relic chase. With the Feb. 1 deadline looming, the Hornets’ rookie spotlight only grows.

For years, optimism around the Charlotte Hornets has felt fragile – brief flashes of promise followed by long stretches of uncertainty. Injuries stalled momentum, development timelines drifted, and hope was something fans talked themselves into rather than something they could see nightly on the floor.

However, Wembanyama decided to put Knueppel on a poster. The highlight took place in the early minutes of the second quarter as rookie guard Dylan Harper threw up an alley-oop pass to Wembanyama. The latter caught the ball over Knueppel as he completed the lob with a powerful two-handed dunk over the Hornets rookie.

Proposed Hornets trade sees Charlotte finally move on from LaMelo Ball, deal for $120 million All-Star to form star backcourt with Kon Knueppel originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.